He Who Would Know God's Will

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105)

The "ephod" or sleeveless vestment of the high priest of Israel was an amazing article of clothing, beloved! Scripture describes it for us as a "breastpiece of judgment" (Exodus 28:15) used to determine the specific plan and purpose of God in any given situation confronting Israel. Clearly God wanted His people to seek His face and to discover the path that He wanted them to take in a particular set of circumstances.

Attached to the ephod were twelve precious stones set in a very specific order. These were given the name "Urim and Thummim" and in some way still unclear to us today, God would use them to reveal His specific will at times of inquiry. Examples of the ephod being used in such a way to determine the will of God during the early days of the Levitical priesthood abound in Scripture.

When David was hiding in the cave at Adullam from the pursuit of the angry King Saul, a priest named Abiathar joined him there, having escaped the slaughter of the other priests and their families at the city of Nob (1 Samuel 22:11-19). He brought the ephod of the high priest with him and David would use it to inquire of the Lord and to discover His will for any situation facing them, such as concerning the Philistine attack on the city of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:9-14). In fact, after ascending the throne of Israel as king, David continued to "inquire of the Lord" using the ephod in his possession (2 Samuel 5:17-21).

Clearly God has spoken to His people throughout the history of mankind, beloved. He spoke directly to them in Abram's day. He spoke to the children of Israel through the pillar of cloud and fire as they made their journey to the land of promise. He spoke through the Urim and Thummim of the high priest's ephod in the early days of the Levitical priesthood. And He spoke to His people through the voices of the many prophets whom He sent to them. That God wants us to "inquire" of Him today and know His plan and purpose for our lives is absolutely without question!

Here the promise of God through the words of David himself reveal to us how we as believers today may know the heart and mind of God for our circumstances. Note first that God's Word is a lamp to our "feet." That reminds us that, if we would know God's will, we must be willing to follow wherever He leads. We must be committed to going wherever He directs. How many of us today want to know God's will, then want the option to debate it and choose whether or not we will follow? That is definitely not what is involved in learning to consult with God!

Then David said that God's Word is a light to our "path." We all make choices as to particular "paths" every day. As the true follower of Jesus Christ seeks God's will through His Word, the right "path" will always become clear. God's Word becomes our "Urim and Thummim" for knowing just where God would have us to go and what He would have us to do. Our part? Get the "feet" moving and just follow the path He reveals to us! What is the point of knowing if we are not going to then follow?

Ron